LanCD and WinFrame

[Dennis Brantley]

Cross-posted; sorry.

Attention:  Logicraft/Microtest LanCD sites that have been considering
adding WinFrame for intranet/remote access to your collection.



It has come to my attention that Microtest has discontinued the software
that was intended to allow WinFrame users to connect to a LanCD server. 
This effectively means that there is now no 'simple' method to provide
access for WinFrame users to LanCD resources.



Microtest is suggesting that their DiscPort Executive product, which is
NT based, be used to either augment or replace the LanCD server.  As an
addition, another server running DPExec would offer a gateway that would
allow WinFrame users to access LanCD volumes through the DPExec server. 
This has the advantage (?) of allowing existing LanCD clients to
continue without change (LanCD requires driver installation on the
client).



As a replacement, all CD services would be moved to a DPExec
environment.  Since DPExec is NT-based and LanCD is DOS-based, this may
mean new hardware.  Additionally, LanCD clients would need to be
reconfigured to access the new NT services.  A DPExec server can easily
be accessed by WinFrame users.



A third way (not a Microtest suggestion) would be to move all the CD
drives to the WinFrame server.  There are a couple of CD management
software packages (DPExec _not_ included) that will run directly on the
same server with WinFrame.  This would still involve reconfiguring
existing LanCD client stations, and depending on the size of the
collection and number of users, there could be some performance issues.



LanCD and DPExec are both still being marketed by Microtest.  If you are
looking at CD management software, and WinFrame is part of your
equation, be aware of this issue.

--
Dennis Brantley
Data Access Technologies, Inc./CD Solutions
Toll Free 1-888-4-DATI-CD (432-8423)
mailto:dennis at dati.com
Voice (770) 339-6554
FAX (770) 682-0629